<p>Well, I guess I don’t know what the definition of “manageable” is…</p>
<p>You also don’t have to major in the same field you want a PhD in. You could choose an undergrad major that will still meet the requirements for anthropology PhD admissions, or minor in anthropology, and have more options upon graduation. You have no idea if you’ll still want a PhD in 4 years, then what will you do with a bachelor’s in anthro with a large amount of debt?</p>
<p>Actually, anthro is very marketable in different fields. Most anthro majors end up working in HR and government-type jobs. </p>
<p>I’m hopefully taking my anthro degree and getting a Masters in Disaster Management (specialization in biosecurity/bioterrorism if possible).</p>
<p>Romani, would you say that someone who is merely average at Anthropology isn’t very well set up for a job. I agree that if you’re good at something, almost anything is marketable. But someone who is merely average at Anthropology isn’t nearly as well set up as someone who is merely average at CS or Engineering. I’m sure your Anthro degree is doing well for you, but you’re also better than the average Anthro major.</p>
<p>CS and engineering are very specialized fields so I won’t even bother comparing the two as it will go to a STEM vs everything else debate.</p>
<p>Another question is does having a bunch of uneducated/unqualified people help or hurt the economy?</p>
<p>My boyfriend didn’t go to college, is 27 years old and lives in a ritzy townhouse while he shops for big houses in a ritzy neighborhood, drives a sports car, and has as much in savings as I have in student loan debt. He also makes twice as much money as I do. He’s not rich, but he makes a solid middle class income and spends his money wisely so he can afford the things he wants. He’s been at his job since he was 18 years old, starting as only an intern, now he is one of the most valuable contributors to his department. He isn’t an exceptional case like Bill Gates or similar, just an average joe anybody can relate to… but he started off in a good field, had skills, and saved his money while he worked his way up. His only debt is his car loan, which he can easily afford and is almost paid off.</p>
<p>People really underestimate the leg up you get starting your professional life without debt. I’m in a position now where I am limited in what jobs I can take because they have to pay enough to make my student loan payments. I don’t have the option to take a lower paying job at a company I can grow with, I have to take the highest paying offer I can find and stay there until my situation improves even if the opportunity for advancement is slim to none. Working your way up from the bottom isn’t a terrible thing, especially if you can knock out some college courses here and there as you go, or get an employer to pay for your education.</p>
<p>That isn’t to say that a college degree doesn’t make things a LOT easier, but that’s really only if you can afford one. If you can’t, there are other possibilities. Kids really need to hear that, I had the opposite impression as a HS senior and really screwed myself over! My mindset was College-at-all-costs and that was REALLY stupid.</p>
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<p>Amen. 10char</p>
<p>I just bought the book “Debt-Free U” - yeah right lol.</p>
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<p>The fundamental reason why we have a public education at all is that we as a society believe that education will help people be more productive in society. This is something that at least in the K-12 level, is pretty well established. Literacy, Arithmetic, and Algebra lead to HUGE increases in productivity over not having those skills. The idea behind having higher education funded partially by the government is that in the long run the critical thinking skills will enable those students to go out and come up with innovative solutions to problems and develop new technologies and that these will lead a much more productive society. As far as anyone can tell, this is true.</p>
<p>Yeah, I plan on getting through college without going into debt.</p>